Well I'm about to dip into the Caravan world for the first time and I'd be grateful for thoughts/tips on caravan selection please?
I've two young boys (both under 3) and my wife and I would like to get a large van that will, hopefully, last 10 years - but there is so much choice and different layouts!! May I ask what works best? Bunk beds, fixed bed, 4 or 6 berth (latter for more space)...I'm just a little overwhelmed at the moment!
I'm very luck to be in the position of buying brand new (Budget £20K....I've not been Lottery lucky!) and my tow car will be a Freelander Auto 4x4 2.2TDI.
I think it's difficult to say, as what works well for some might not work so well for others.
All I can say is that our triple bunk layout in the Adria Altea 542DT works very well for us. We have 3 children and a dog.
A very popular option with children is the double bunk layout with an end Dinette. Like the Adria Altea 552DT, although most manufacturers do this same layout.
Get yourself to the caravan and motorhome show at the NEC in October. Every layout you can possibly think out (and more besides) will be on show in one van or another so you can have a good nose about and speak to staff and customers. Keep an ear out for complaining customers, what are they having a whinge about etc.
------------- Doing whatever the rice krispies tell me to.
We have triple bunk, small rear dinette mid bathroom layout with our children (Bailey Bregagne series 7, 2010). It's a 6 berth as I think the extra room helps. The children (and I) like the fact that they have a seperate space to play and I can shut the sliding door on them when they go to bed and not disturb them.
Cons for us are the triple bunk layout doesn't give them much room to sit up in bed, a double bunk would be better (they are more available in the newer vans anyway). Our mid bathroom is cramped as it doesn't have a seperate shower. I would look for this in a new 'van but it wasn't available in the age of 'van we were looking for.
If you can visit the show, sit in 'vans for ages and imagine how it would work for you. If you can't visit the show, sit in 'vans on sales centre forcourts and see what works for you. Imagine how you would spend your evenings, where would/could you eat? Where would the tele' go (if you take one)? how would you all sit comfortably etc.
We purchased the wrong layout for us first time round as we forgot how quickly children grow and how much space they take up when they do!!!
Thank you all for your comments. My wife likes the idea of the bunk beds but i fear it will put an end date on the caravan (aka they will outgrow the beds).
I think I have to bit the bullet and get my rear-end to the Show!
The show is worth visiting as you can sit in caravans from all major manufacturers back to back. Take your time and try and see yourselves getting comfortable. £20k and a Freelander will give you quite a wide choice.
Our friends caravan with 2 children aged 11 and 7. Their caravan (a Lunar Quasar from 2008) has double fixed bunks and a separate dining area for 2 people opposite - useful as a children's seating/colouring area. The eldest shows no sign of outgrowing the bunk yet! Theirs is a huge twin-axle job but I believe Lunar now also offer a similar layout on a single axle - Google Lunar Lexon 580.
i have 2 sons 4 and 7. i started with a fixed rear bunk bailey with a wetroom style bathroom. one of the bunks was not full length so would have been eventually out grown.
i changed the bailey for a coachman with 2 full sized fixed rear bunks and a mid washroom with separate shower. its great to be able to close off the rear section and there is a separate TV connection and dinette back there so my sons can do there own thing whilst we sit up front. my caravan is a 6 berth with 2 further bunks made up out of the dinette we actually used all of the bunks last weekend as our nieces stayed with us.
if you are as wealthy as you say and can afford a good heavy tow car i would recommend buying as large a twin axle caravan as you can as this will be more future proof. we dont really use our caravan enough to justify the cost of storage and running a heavy car but it is nice to go caravanning but its certainly isn't cheap if you only go away 4 times a year. if we dont use it more it may have to go.
also if you are rich and like to show it you will fit in with the caravanning fraternity....just check out some of the facebook groups.
------------- First van bailey ranger 550/6
Now the proud owner of a coachman amara
I don't think the op said he was rich and some of the later comments seem unnessecary, he is asking for advice and stating facts about his budget.
No need for sarcastic remarks.
Quote: Originally posted by mikim on 23/9/2016
also if you are rich and like to show it you will fit in with the caravanning fraternity....just check out some of the facebook groups...
???
Not rich but on quite a few FB groups Baileyjake ...are you a member of the 'chip on the shoulder' FB group ?'
Yes really. The caravanning Facebook groups I see seem to be full of posts showing "our brand new outfit and tow car" and stealth boasts like "me and hubby are thinking of buying a brand new £80k range rover to tow our huge twin axle caravan. Anyone got a range rover?" And people with massive tow cars and light caravans saying "I would never tow above 60%.
This forum isn't so bad though.
However, caravanning does seem to be a way of showing who has the biggest newest car and caravan.
I personally wouldn't go round telling others the price of my car and caravan.
------------- First van bailey ranger 550/6
Now the proud owner of a coachman amara
Thank you for all the tips. It really does show that I have to do plenty more research and viewings.
Re the "Rich and Show-off" comments, well, nice if I were rich but I'm not.
My tow car will be 7 years old next year.
My budget, that's coming from the gratuity I've earned from having served in the Armed Forces for over 20 years. I just figured instead of paying off a lump of mortgage or going to Disney, a caravan might be a better investment for my family and I.
Hope whatever you're all doing today, you have a good one.
P.S It's funny how it takes just the same amount of effort to be nasty...as it does to be nice.
Our van is 8 next year. If we won the lottery next Saturday we wouldn't change it. BaileyJake, I couldn't give a monkey's bum about what people think about Miranda Bailey, OH & I & the dog think she's bloody brilliant and know we're very lucky to have such a lovely van & to be honest, ours are the only opinions that matter. yes we've got a 65 plate tow vehicle, coudn't give a monkeys what anyone thinks about that either. It suits us down to the ground.
You're buying at the right time of year Fo2B, dealers are getting rid of their 2016 models at discounted prices to make space for their 2017 vans.
Are you going to pay a visit to the NEC to have a nosey about?
------------- Doing whatever the rice krispies tell me to.
Yes I'm planning to go to the Glasgow show, which isn't until Feb 17 :(, as we live in Scotland.
Re buying times. I believe you're quite right that buying at the end of the year, prior to the release of new models seems the optimum time. I've also learnt about "Dealer Specials" which seem a great way to get more bang for your buck!
I really like the Sprite Major 6 SR, seems to have everything we want and at a great price, leaving some pennies for a nice awning and some possible upgrades!
Quote: Originally posted by fatherof2boys on 26/9/2016
My budget, that's coming from the gratuity I've earned from having served in the Armed Forces for over 20 years. I just figured instead of paying off a lump of mortgage or going to Disney, a caravan might be a better investment for my family and I.
I couldn't agree more.
I hope you find the perfect van eventually and have many happy holidays with your family.
i got a navy pension and pit pension i can call on now. at 56.
But i managed to get a good deal on a 2013 unicorn barcelona getting px at the price i paid for the indiana 3 yrs ago.
sold my vmax more than i paid for it and the rest i saved.
I tow with an 8 year old disco, now to me thats not posh at all. If you have earned your money and can call on a pension to get somthing for all the family to enjoy then do it.
I do it for the grandkids to ensure that they can always have a few holidays a year, while i am still able to tow a caravan and drive.
Thats face it you have to work till your 67+ and why not enjoy it now, because by that time we may not enjoy life as much.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: 1st time buyer - grateful for advice
